Julie

Posted on: Sunday, December 31st, 2023

New outdoor tree-climbing elements at our Franklin Y

New outdoor tree-climbing elements have been added at our Bernon Family Branch as an enhancement to our outdoor challenge course in Franklin. The new climbing elements were funded by a generous donation from longtime Y supporters Paula Rooney and Gerry Shaw, and will be used extensively in spring and summer 2024 with youth participating in the Y’s Before & After School Care and Summer Camp programs, as well as local school groups visiting the Y.

In late August, we installed Monkey Hardware systems on trees on at the Franklin Y, each providing a different climbing level of accessibility. These kits effectively turn the trees into climbing walls and are paired with the TRUBLUE iQ auto belay system. The TRUBLUE auto belays allow climbers of all ages and skill levels to climb heights safely. Rather than pulling the young climber upwards, they allow climbers to ascend the tree on their own power, while providing rest as needed during the climb with its catch and hold technology. Once the climber has reached the top of the climb they have chosen, the auto belays use magnetic braking technology to lower the climber back down slowly and safely to the ground.

“From their decades in leadership at Dean College in Franklin to their contributions as Board members of our Hockomock Area YMCA, Paula Rooney and Gerry Shaw have a long history of supporting youth and families in the Franklin community,” said Jim Downs, Hockomock Area YMCA CEO. “Our Y staff and members are so appreciative that they continue to find new ways to enhance operations at our Y and help us provide an even better experience for the youth we serve.”

The Monkey Hardware and TRUBLUE auto belays have received rave reviews from Y summer campers. “These new elements have brought the kids together in a new way that I have not seen in a long time. When a camper was climbing their whole group would be watching and cheering them on to reach the top,” said Ashley Dumas, Youth Program Director at the Bernon Family Branch. “It gave the kids something to work towards and accomplish. It was amazing watching the campers challenge themselves to make it higher than they did last time or try a harder climb.”

Our Hockomock Y is grateful for this generous donation made possible by Paula Rooney and Gerry Shaw. The Franklin Y’s camp and playing fields also feature Gramdma’s Place, an outdoor pavilion with weatherproof tables and seating, which was built with funds donated by the Rooney & Shaw family.

Registration for the 2024 Summer Camp Season begins January 12, 2024!

Register Now for Summer Camp 2024

Posted on: Friday, December 29th, 2023

Stronger Together: Team and Personal Training Programs

Stronger Together is our Y’s latest team training and personal training program

A premier personal training program that takes place at our Bernon Family Branch in Franklin. Workouts are completed in a private, dedicated space used for Stronger Together clients only on the second floor of our Franklin Y.

Start with an assessment to learn about the program: Stronger Together programs start with a free Starting Point Session. The 60-minute session allows our trainer to learn about your goals and challenges, observe your movement quality and create the perfect plan for you!

The Starting Point Session will include:

Finding out more about you: your goals, limitations, and health history.
Giving you a tour of our dedicated Stronger Together personal training area.
Assessing movement patterns with a Functional Movement Screen to help find the right exercises specifically for you.
Go through a light workout so you can experience the different tools we use during Stronger Together workouts.
Provide recommendations on a program that suits your goals, time and budget.

All of this information will be used to help create your training program and keep you injury free along the way!

BE HEALTHY. BE STRONG. BELONG.

What is Stronger Together?

Stronger Together is our premier one-on-one and group personal training system helping people look and feel their absolute best.

Team Training is a 45 minute workout perfect for those who want coaching from a personal trainer every time they come to the gym and enjoy the dynamics of group workouts. We offer 3 great options for Team Training – Foundations for beginners, Afterburn for advanced metabolic training and Industrial Strength for a true strength training option – and members can do unlimited sessions each month. $100 per month.

Personal training is perfect for clients with specific goals, injuries and those who do not prefer to work in larger groups. We can accommodate nearly all fitness levels and health issues in this setting. For those with more experience in fitness, we program more advanced exercises, which require more hands-on coaching. We begin to introduce lower repetition ranges and focus on those with strength goals. Also, we work on corrective strategies to help clients improve their movement restrictions. Team Training is included in all one-on-one personal training programs as a way to supplement the workouts. Options include up to 4, 8 and 12 sessions per month, and cost ranges from $201 to $471 per month.

Workouts are scheduled appointments to make sure you stay on track with getting started. Track your progress and communicate with your trainer with a custom mobile app. You’ll schedule your monthly personal meetings to discuss basic nutrition coaching, goal-setting and strategy. These personalized sessions are designed to keep you on track… so you can be on your way to reaching your goals.

Tailored to your goals, time and budget: our monthly programs allow you the most flexibility in scheduling workouts and finding a program that’s works for you.

Special Offer!

All of our Hockomock Y members have $50 personal Y Bucks to use towards any Stronger Together personal training program. Certain restrictions may apply.

How to Get Started:

Contact our Fitness & Personal Training Director Chris Raymond at chrisr@hockymca.org or 774-235-2732 to get started with us today. Let’s get Stronger Together!

Posted on: Tuesday, December 12th, 2023

North Attleboro Indoor Pool Renovation

Make A Splash with Us in our Renovated Indoor Pool!

Our brand-new Aquatics Center is now open!

It’s brighter, more welcoming and efficient, and more accessible to people of all abilities. Whether you’ll be joining us for lap swim, open family swim, water group exercise or swim lessons, we can’t wait to welcome you back in the water this holiday season. We look forward to seeing you there!

Hear from our Executive Director Mike Mahoney with an exciting announcement!

Renovations to our Indoor Pool is part of a series of renovation projects in our branches to enhance the member experience, as part of our Y’s 50th Anniversary Celebration.

What to Expect:
A newly constructed pool deck with new tile work
Brand new poured stairs to allow for easier access into and out of the pool for people of all ages and abilities
Increased natural sunlight with the addition of several large windows and enhanced lighting to brighten the Center
Newly constructed walls with fresh paint
Two new individual locker rooms in the family locker room hallway
New pipes and drainage system to maximize the efficiency of the pool
New HVAC system to ensure proper air flow and air temperature regulation in and around the pool area

Check our website for our real-time pool schedule

Pool Schedule

Swim lessons are also available!

View & Register for Swim Lessons

Posted on: Friday, September 1st, 2023

Midnight Masquerade

Join us for Midnight at the Masquerade! A fun night out – just in time for the Halloween season.

This local fundraiser, hosted by the YMCA child care staff – is an opportunity for friends and neighbors to come together to raise funds to enhance the lives of those in our 15 town service area who need the YMCA in their lives.

Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 5:30pm
LaFayette House 109 Washington St. Foxboro, MA

ABOUT THE EVENT

We welcome you to the Midnight at the Masquerade! Please note that we suggest semi-formal costume attire for the event which is age 21+. There will be a prize for best dressed! Dinner will be served at 6 and the show will start shortly after! There will be a cash bar available throughout the evening.

PURCHASE TODAY

THE PLOT

The rustle of silks and feathers under muted conversation was probably the last thing heard by the tragically and unexpectedly deceased at the Billionaires’ Club Annual Masquerade Ball. With a mystery under each feathery façade, unmasking the killer may be quite a challenge. It’s up to you to determine which partygoer is guilty, bring this crime to justice, and save the party!

Attend the Billionaires’ Club Annual Masquerade Ball and help get this soiree back on track by trading clues with your guests, gathering information, and solving the crime before the masked menace gets away! Evening wear, ball gowns, Venetian masks, suits, and tuxes are what to wear to this high class night of masks and murder. Get ready for a glamorous evening of mystery, intrigue, and murder at this masquerade ball murder mystery party!

If you have any questions, please email: Nicole at nicoleb@hockymca.org.

Posted on: Friday, August 25th, 2023

Spier Family Splash Park at our Foxboro Y

We are pleased to announce our brand new Spier Family Splash Park at our Invensys Foxboro Branch!

This expansive water feature, adjacent to our existing 25-yard outdoor pool, will provide families with lifetime memories and opportunities for quality time together. An exciting new addition, the Splash Park will provide entertainment for the entire family while adding to the value of summer camps, child care and memberships.

Come check out The Spier Family Splash Park — an ideal spot for parents with both younger and older children, as the younger ones (ages 10 and under) will be able to use the park while the older ones use the pool. We are looking forward to the 2024 Summer season!

We held our dedication event August 14, read the Sun Chronicle article.

Posted on: Sunday, July 30th, 2023

Chili Bowl Cook Off

Join us for the Chili Cook Off at Patriot Place!

Students may be going back to school, but summer isn’t over yet! Come to Patriot Place on Friday, September 15th to celebrate the last Friday this summer. There will be family fun, live music, and chili for everyone!

Friday, September 15, 2023
4:30pm – 6:30pm

at Patriot Place – outdoors at the North Marketplace

Enjoy chili samples from Patriot Place restaurants. Prize for the best chili is awarded by guests and a panel of celebrity judges. All proceeds benefit our Y’s annual Reach Out Campaign.

PURCHASE TICKETS TODAY

Admission is $10 per person. (Kids 10 and under are free). Purchase tickets in advance or day of event.

If you have any questions, please email: Nicole at nicoleb@hockymca.org.

Posted on: Saturday, April 15th, 2023

Choose Love Event

Featuring Scarlett Lewis

A message of Hope, Love & Resiliency

Sponsored by our Hockomock Area YMCA in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Putnam Club, Gillette Stadium

Foxborough, Mass

Scarlett Lewis, founder and Chief Movement Officer of Choose Love, will share her journey in overcoming tragedy and will encourage us all to Choose Love as a response to adversity and challenges. Scarlett has inspired over 3.5 million people to Choose Love through a simple yet powerful formula to create a more loving world.

Courage + Gratitude + Forgiveness + Compassion In Action = The Choose Love Formula

This event is free but registration is required through the YMCA.

REGISTER TODAY

All in the community (ages 15+) are invited to attend.

Please park in Lot 5 near the East Entrance and Enter using the E1 entrance (E2 for ADA Access). To view the Gillette Stadium parking map: click here.

The Choose Love Movement is a global nonprofit providing Character Social Emotional Development programs for communities, schools, homes, and the workplace.

The Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement was created in honor of Scarlett’s son who was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.

This event is sponsored by our YMCA at no cost to the community due to the philanthropic support of our partners and the Y’s commitment to mental well-being. Join us for this important community event.

Questions about this event, please email Brynne Kirwan, LCSW at brynnek@hockymca.org.

Learn about Scarlett’s journey and her mission to encourage everyone to Choose Love.

Posted on: Tuesday, February 28th, 2023

The Spier Family Splash Park Challenge

JOIN THE SPIER FAMILY SPLASH PARK CHALLENGE

We are excited to share Greg and Kathy Spier of Foxborough are issuing a Donor Challenge to the community through the Hockomock Area YMCA. The Spiers and the Spier Family Foundation will match every donation made February 13th through April 15th up to $100,000.

When the Spier Family Splash Park Challenge is met, it will result in $200,000 to fund a new splash park at the Hockomock Area YMCA’s Invensys Foxboro Branch located at 67 Mechanic Street. The Spier Family Splash Park will be adjacent to the Y’s existing Spier Family Outdoor Aquatics Center and will add to the YMCA’s portfolio of outdoor activities including a sports court for basketball and pickleball.

PLEASE GIVE NOW AND DOUBLE YOUR GIFT

Ways to Give:

Donate today and double your gift! Give online hockymca.org/give
Give by Venmo
Text HOCKYMCA to 56651
Visit any Hockomock Area YMCA Member Services Desk and make your gift with a member of our team
Mail your gift to: Hockomock Area YMCA 300 Elmwood Street North Attleboro, MA 02760 (payable to: Hockomock Area YMCA)

Ground breaking on the Spier Family Splash Park will begin in Spring 2023 with a June completion. The opening is slated to coincide with summer enjoyment by members and campers alike and will provide exciting aquatics experiences that people will not be able to experience elsewhere in Foxboro or the surrounding communities.

The Splash Park project is part of the Hockomock Area YMCA’s Impact Campaign which celebrates its 50th anniversary. The Y is committed to raising $1.5 million for their Impact Campaign and have raised just over $1 million to-date, including Greg and Kathy Spier’s total pledge of $250,000.

“Our YMCA is so grateful for the decades of dedication, passion and support that the Spier Family and the Spier Family Foundation has bestowed upon us. It’s truly incredible,” said Jim Downs, CEO of the Hockomock Area YMCA. “The impact of their generosity can be felt throughout Foxboro and beyond and is truly a ripple effect of support that spreads miles and generations.”

The Spier family’s impact at the Hockomock Y and the local community runs deep. Their legacy at the Hockomock YMCA includes the naming of the indoor and outdoor aquatics centers at the Y’s Invensys Foxboro Branch, along with Greg and Kathy’s parents, Sonja and the late Alex Spier.

The Spier Family’s generosity also includes the Spier Family Splash program which offers free lessons to Foxboro students in grades K-2 to learn to swim, as well as dedicated philanthropic support to other YMCA initiatives including the Reach Out Campaign and Food Access Program. The Spier Family and their foundation sponsors the Y’s Spier Family Kindness for Kids 5K & Family Day, a day that celebrates and reinforces the Y’s focus on healthy living and commitment to raise funds for the Food Access initiative.

“My dad always talked about wanting to leave the world a better place than he found it. That’s why he and my mom, and Kathy and I, are such passionate supporters of the Hockomock Area YMCA,” shared Greg Spier. “We continue to see firsthand the impact our Y provides every day to strengthening families and communities. This splash park will create a safe and fun destination for children and families to create memories that will last a lifetime.”

“Please consider a gift and we will proudly match it, up to $100,000. The challenge will run February 13th through April 15th,” says Kathy Spier. “Thank you in advance from the bottom of our hearts for making a gift to this exciting project for our YMCA and our community.”

To learn about other ways to support this initiative, please contact Katie Moore at katiem@hockymca.org.

Posted on: Friday, January 20th, 2023

Shoot for Scholarships Fundraiser

Kids Helping Kids

Sports enthusiasts of all ages and abilities are learning the value of social responsibility through our Shoot for Scholarships Fundraiser in our Sports department!

At the Y, we believe in the potential of all kids. And that all kids should have the opportunity to grow and learn at the Y, regardless of ability to pay. Not enrolled today in a sports class or league? That’s not a problem, as everyone is eligible to participate.

Children in our sports classes and leagues will have the opportunity to shoot free throws to raise money for our Y’s annual Reach Out Campaign.

In 2022, the Reach Out Campaign provided over $2.7 million in scholarships and program subsidies so that individuals and families can experience the YMCA regardless of financial ability.

“The Hockomock YMCA has been a blessing to us. If it were not for all the donations we would not be able to send our children to the Y. Even a small amount can make a difference. You can help children and families like us.” – scholarship recipient

HOW TO JOIN:

Pick up a pledge sheet and log from your sports coach at the Y.
Ask family and friends if they will make a donation to sponsor you. Share that the YMCA is a charity and we do not turn people away due to lack of funds.
100% of dollars raised will go to our Reach Out Annual Campaign.
This is a great fundraiser, allowing kids to solicit donations based on the number of free throws they make within two minutes (in classes March 25th through 31st) or you may ask for a flat donation of any dollar amount.
On the day of your class or league, bring in any pledges or gifts you have received.

Any questions, please email: rossg@hockymca.org (Foxboro), mikem@hockymca.org (Franklin), or kristenmcmillen@hockymca.org (North Attleboro).

Posted on: Saturday, December 3rd, 2022

Franklin YMCA Gymnasium Renovation

OUR RENOVATED FRANKLIN Y GYMNASIUM IS NOW OPEN

This renovation is the first in a series of renovation projects in our branches to enhance the members experience, as part of our 50th Anniversary.

Renovations includes:
New hardwood floor installation
New safety padding
New court lines for basketball & pickleball play
Fresh coat of paint including the 2nd floor track area
Four New Backboards
Enhanced storage

Franklin Gymnasium Schedule

You can expect a fresh, modern, welcoming space for our members who play basketball, for our gymnasts, and for family members to enjoy activities during open gymnasium times. Similar to a project completed at the North Attleboro Y in 2019, our gymnasium will have a new maple hardwood floor, new safety padding, enhanced storage, new court lines for basketball and pickleball play, and a fresh coat of paint including the entire second floor track area.

See you on the court!

BERNON FAMILY BRANCH	45 Forge Hill Road Franklin, MA 02038	508.528.8708
INVENSYS FOXBORO BRANCH	67 Mechanic Street Foxboro, MA 02035	508.543.2523
HURLEY FAMILY BRANCH	300 Elmwood Street North Attleboro, MA 02760	508.695.7001
MANSFIELD ARTS & EDUCATION CENTER	40 Balcom Street Mansfield, MA 02048	508.339.3066